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SECURITY SYSTEMS AND MONITORING DEVICES CONNECTED TO THE WEB

Home automation has seen major advancements in products that increase home security systems Toronto, make routine chores automated, and also monitor behaviour. The truth is that home automation devices are more than high tech toys for the elderly, they also present the opportunity for more freedom. These high tech devices used for security such as camera streaming loops and doors that can lock with sensors, ultimately help people stay independent for longer and alleviates the need for the elderly to have to move into a care taking home. When there are sensors that are installed for environmental issues such as automated stoves or carbon monoxide detectors, these will alert any caretakers remotely of any possible dangers.

With the senior citizens in mind, there have been quite a few wifi-integrated monitoring services designed. These are equipped with full readouts of daily activities, and can also give health related insight, messaging capabilities and access to email for constant communication. When you instal a home automation system, family members or caretakers can easily be alerted with the use of motion censored cameras as to if there is movement in certain areas of the home, a window or door has been accessed or left open.

CONTROL LIGHTING WITH YOUR VOICE

Falls are a major problem with the elderly, as they account for up to %90 of hip fractures. There is no way to eliminate the risk of falling, but there are preventative measures which include good lighting, this can drastically reduce the possibility of a fall.

The problem is that lights are difficult to operate for an elderly person when they are located on the other side of a large room for example. Especially when there is a handicap in vision, according to research, seniors need up to four times more luminance to be able to sight required tests such as writing, reading etc. To add to the problem, there is adjustment time needed to go from bright light to darkness and the other way around.

Intelligent luminance systems use priorly installed wiring and swap the switches and dimmers for smart lighting controls, this presents the option of creating “scenes” according to individual tastes. When this system is coupled with voice-control technology, it makes the task of turning lights on and off easy with a simple voice command. This ultimately makes the room more safe for your loved one.

Technicians can instal multiple devices and hook everything up to one home automation system, set specific parameters for triggers to happen at specific times of the day, or have the triggers set off if or when something happens.

Sometimes your loved one may have forgotten to turn off the stove top between 10:00 pm and 4:00 am. The heating and cooling systems will have intelligence and can calibrate the inside according to what is going on outside in response to weather changes, increasing and decreasing temperature according to the sun rising and setting. Lighting can also be set to turn on gradually according to the sunrise and sunset so that they don’t have to always keep it in mind to do so themselves. For those who are hard of hearing, lights can be programmed to blink a certain way if the doorbell is ringing, and of course a live video feed can be installed so they don’t have to answer the door to an unknown person.

Of course home automation is at the mercy of technology which is ever advancing, and in the future there will be more complex systems out there that can do some remarkable things such as functional surfaces and environmental sensors. The future of home automation is definitely looking up as it is functional and has major promising developments happening, but we currently have an arsenal of technology in this field that will make life easier and safer for our loved ones.

Problems with stucco siding in Toronto Ontario

Though there can be various reasons for problems to arise with stucco, the majority will be moisture related. Issues with stucco are also more prevalent in places that have more rainfall. When you consider all of the problems , stucco hasn’t really changed all the much over time. It’s a Portland cement base, and it always has been.

Because of It’s absorbent character problems with stucco Toronto tend to be more common in areas that have a lot of rainfall. The higher the yearly rain, the more problems you’ll have to face concerning your stucco.

Stucco moisture problems

If your home is in a climate where the rainfall is moderate or higher, then there is his of having issues with your wall assembly. A lot of the problems with stucco have to do with improper draining, and rain water that doesn’t dry. Due to it’s porous nature, rain water that normally runs off a wall will get absorbed by the stucco. Additionally , windows tend to shed moisture into walls, this is especially true at the bottom of the window. When improperly drained or not quickly removed, the water will damage the materials in the structure and it can lead to rot and mold issues. There have been major advancements in insulating homes over the last thirty years and have positively impacted the ability of a home to save energy whilst slashing cost of air conditioning and heating bills. The negative to this however is that the wall cant dry as effectively as it did when homes weren’t so tightly built. Older houses that weren’t well insulated could simply dry out their walls on their own. During a hot summer if the wall got wet the suns rays would dry it from the outside all the way in. During the winter months, the heat generated by boilers can dry out walls from the inside out.

The manner in which your home was built can also have an effect.

As we move towards homes that are more sealed and insulated, the wall has foregone it’s drying potential and new ways are needed to get the wall to drain and dry. Before, the insulation would allow for the passage of air through walls and this would help with the drying of any trapped moisture. With the modern insulation craze of closed cell foam, this passage of air can’t happen and thus the water will remain stuck.

The construction world took time to realize that this is a problem, however now people are adapting. It can take up to eight years for these issues to begin revealing themselves. At the same time sometimes it can take as little as two years. There are codes now that will try to rectify the problem that arise from wall systems in which the wetting and drying potentials aren’t balanced, and products are out there that can take the moisture overload.

Top reasons you want to install pot lights.

If it’s a new home you’re building, or renovating, pot lighting can be crucial to the feel, function and style of any space. Here we have a few pointers of what to consider before installing pot lighting. Recessed lighting gives a neat and “tucked away” look in any home. The function of pot lights is they can illuminate a room, open spaces to make them feel bigger, highlight a piece of art on a wall and other features.

WHEN TO USE POT LIGHTING

Even though pot lights are usually installed in between the studs of a building or any renovations going on, some of the put fixtures can actually be used as a retrofit and have been designed to be slipped into an existing wall through holes which were in place for electrical wiring; though these fixtures have to be rated for insulation IC rated. If there isn’ t any insulation in the wall ceiling, different fixture can be used.

HOW TO PLACE POT LIGHT FIXTURES

• if you can, stay away from arranging the lighting fixtures in a straight line and too close together running down a room. This arrangement will have the feel of a highly organized government building
• by using the appropriate sized fixtures for closeness to each other , you’ll be doing yourself a design service and avoiding any awkward looking lights
• be sure to align the lighting arrangement in front of anything that you need to be illuminated, such as a shelf, a painting or some kind of panel- should be 1-2 feet from that object.
• whenever you install pot lights for reading or any task, the fixtures should be installed overhead at the appropriate angle so as not to block any needed light.
• when you are looking to have recessed lighting illuminate a 3 dimensional object such as a statue, it’s recommended to have it lit form various angles
• if you install pot lights on the bottom of your cabinets in your kitchen, the light they emit will light up your counter

POT LIGHT FIXTURE SIZES

If it’s regular voltage lights you are choosing, or low voltage halogen or any other style such as led. There are some fundamental sizing that you can consider. 4inches, 5 inches, and 6 inches are the basic sizes. The largest the 6 inch fixtures are generally installed in areas that need a lot of light to flood the space such as high ceiling rooms. While the smaller 4-5 inch function more efficiently in tinier spaces as they do have a more discreet look and are less intrusive.

DIFFERENT BULBS FOR POT LIGHTS

▪ Halogen bulbs are of the whiter coloured light , and can be offered in both textures of light; spot and flood. They are available in all size fixtures
▪ Incandescent bulbs are known as the inexpensive choice and are good for any general function
▪ The most common bulb Is the R bulb which has the reflective concave back..
▪ Halogen bulbs of low voltage have a long life and have a higher output than other bulbs.

A Brief Guide to Spray Foam Insulation Cost and Benefits

Insulating our homes is a necessity to properly regulate moisture and air. Poor insulation can make a home too hot and even lead to deterioration of the house’s materials.

For some, the costs of hiring spray insulation contractors are too much. Is spray foam insulation worth it despite the sometimes steep spray foam insulation cost? How much do they really cost?

How Much does Hiring Spray Insulation Contractors Cost?

Many factors affect the cost of hiring spray insulation contractors including but not limited to the type of insulation you’re going to install and the fee of the contractor you’re going to hire.

Spray foams come in two general types: open-cell and closed-cell spray foams. Open-cell spray foams like Icynene are usually more affordable at around $0.44 to $0.65 per board foot than closed-cell foams which cost around $1 to $1.50 per board foot. However, why are closed-cell foams more expensive than open-cell foams?

The main reasons are the differences in densities and moisture permeability. Closed-cell foam is a moisture vapor barrier, which means that no moisture can pass through the foam. Closed-cell foam is also a higher density foam, with densities ranging from 1.7 lbs to 2lb. Open-cell foams have 0.5 lbs to 0.7 lbs densities.

Spray insulation contractors also have varying rates. There are foam installation companies that charge a bit higher, and there are those that have lower rates. You must know that you should not base your decision on their rates alone. More experienced installers may charge higher, but you will definitely get the best results and thus the best return on your investment.

Cost of Foam Insulation for Roof Panels

The cost of foam insulation for roof panels depends on the type of roof you have and the materials you will use. Installing spray foams on a sloped roof is trickier and will likely cost more than installing spray foams on flat roofs. Also, thicker boards will cost more, so if you want to increase your R-value, be prepared to pay more.

Just a quick note on roof panel foam insulation: It’s not advisable to use close-cell insulators on wooden roof decks. Closed-cell foams will not absorb moisture, so moisture will accumulate in the roof’s wood decking, causing the roof to rot and develop leaks. Consult with spray insulation contractors on which materials are best to use for your roof panels.

Is Spray Foam Insulation Worth It?

The primary reason for insulating with spray foam is to save energy. Studies by the US Department of Energy show that installing spray foams leads to the reduction of energy consumption by as much as 40%. This is because of the air infiltration through walls, doorways, and windows.

So is spray foam insulation worth it? You bet!

Don’ be Deterred by Spray foam Insulation Cost

Spray foam insulation cost varies, and yes, sometimes it can add up. However, the return on your investment in terms of the energy you’re going to save is more than enough to recover the loss. Spray foam boards are one of the best materials for insulating your home. Get yours now for a more energy-efficient and comfortable home!